Product Presentation - Elektron Analog Four

Four mono-voices, CV, effects and complex sequencer 11-Jan-13

We've been hearing a lot about Elektron's new analog four voice - the Analog Four.From the stylish but somewhat obscure introduction movie which piqued our interest, to the sound audition pieces coming online as people get hold of their very own units.

The Analog Four is a new type of instrument from Elektron as it has 100% analog VCOs and Filters which are digitally controlled. Their Machine Drum and MonoMachine have been Virtual Analog and sample based.

Elektron came over from their Gothenburg HQ to give us a closeup look at the Analog Four.Jon is the product manager doing the talking, Jenk the guy making all the sounds.

i make no apologies for the length of the video, its just that there seemed to be so many things to talk about...

The Elektron Analog Four is available now via selected retailers and direct from the Elektron Website.

Sounds like a very capable machine, probably also good for someone like me looking for a first analgue piece of kit as this (analog four) can control/interact with additional analog synths am I add later.

The only worry/surprise I have is that it does not have four individual outputs. Worried about how well u can balance/mix/EQ all 4 voices coming out of it also for external processing.

Unless each of the two outputs is stereo and u can pan 2 voces Left/Right for each output.

What about USB, does that act as audio over USB? So maybe via USB u can have 4 separate audio channels?

11-Jan-13 05:36 PM

Tesla Said...

Damn, :D Prob gonna buy one....

12-Jan-13 09:00 AM

PALU Said...

Great review! I was on the fence about it (no polyphonic mode? no multiple outputs?), but now I see how it is well thought out... Me wants it now! :))

13-Jan-13 04:17 AM

Svante Said...

Wow....

13-Jan-13 03:18 PM

Blake Said...

Great review. I recently purchased one and love it. I'm a bit confused though. Linking tracks is mentioned in order to play chords. I can't find anything in the manual about linking tracks. Is this simply the copying of the same sound to two tracks and then setting the middi channel of both tracks to match?

13-Jan-13 09:21 PM

Hair for Men Said...

There is no a full head of hair between these guys. Does using this machine thin out your hair? Great review guys, thanks.

14-Jan-13 07:56 AM

on/off Said...

Excellent machine and good review. Nice patching options and very cool sound, close your eyes at the beginning of the review and listen - awesome ambient pad machine!!

I like the cv control stuff and the modulation possibilities are so cool, analog heaven. Audio-in options are great and audio over usb would just kit it off the planet!

Could use the headphone out as another stereo pair, but pity theres no direct 3/4 out.

I want :D Save, save, save!!!

17-Jan-13 12:59 AM

leplooplover Said...

i checked it at Schneiersladen in Berlin. You can do a lot with it but it also kind of sterile and cold. next to it was a small box call LEPLOOP. totally weird. kinda limited compared to the analog 4. but so much more fun, so much more alive and authentic. you could feel the analog parts in this little box making really cool acid and minimal sounds. i ended buying the LEPLOOP and will add some better delay / reverb than the one in the electron box.

18-Jan-13 09:44 AM

leplooplover Said...

i checked it at Schneiersladen in Berlin. You can do a lot with it but it also kind of sterile and cold. next to it was a small box call LEPLOOP. totally weird. kinda limited compared to the analog 4. but so much more fun, so much more alive and authentic. you could feel the analog parts in this little box making really cool acid and minimal sounds. i ended buying the LEPLOOP and will add some better delay / reverb than the one in the electron box.

Having ignored the prior Elektron gear, I am very impressed with this on several levels.

A few questions if somebody wouldn't mind:

1. You can control CV but likely only two due to gate being one output and pitch CV the other?

2. The sweeping had no stepping as Nick suggested. Is the 0..127 (which is typical 7-bit midi) only there to store the setting once you get to the value you like or is it stored with higher resolution?

3. Controlling parameters from external CC, is 14-bit Midi supported or only 7-bit.

But very nice. I always liked the way that XBase allowed for changes per step though very cumbersome. The dude demonstrating obviously does this in his sleep, but nice to see what is possible.